Calculating Perturbative Expansion of Metric Inverse in Cosmology

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the inverse metric in cosmological perturbation theory, specifically expanding the metric tensor around Minkowski spacetime. The inverse metric is expressed as $$g^{\mu\nu}=\eta^{\mu\nu}-\kappa h^{\mu\nu}+\kappa^{2}h^{\mu}_{\,\lambda}h^{\lambda\nu}+\mathcal{O}(\kappa^{3})$$, where ##h_{\mu\nu}## represents the perturbation and ##\kappa<<1##. The participants clarify the process of obtaining the first-order contributions and express uncertainty regarding the inclusion of higher-order terms and the justification for raising and lowering indices of ##h_{\mu\nu}## using ##\eta_{\mu\nu}##.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of cosmological perturbation theory
  • Familiarity with metric tensors and their properties
  • Knowledge of Minkowski spacetime
  • Basic grasp of tensor calculus and index manipulation
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  • Study the derivation of higher-order terms in perturbative expansions
  • Learn about the implications of raising and lowering indices in tensor calculus
  • Explore applications of cosmological perturbation theory in modern cosmology
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Physicists, cosmologists, and students of general relativity who are interested in the mathematical foundations of cosmological perturbation theory and its applications in understanding the universe's evolution.

Frank Castle
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As I understand it, in the context of cosmological perturbation theory, one expands the metric tensor around a background metric (in this case Minkowski spacetime) as $$g_{\mu\nu}=\eta_{\mu\nu}+\kappa h_{\mu\nu}$$ where ##h_{\mu\nu}## is a metric tensor and ##\kappa <<1##.

My question is, how does one determine the inverse metric ##g^{\mu\nu}##? I've read some notes that state the result: $$g^{\mu\nu}=\eta^{\mu\nu}-\kappa h^{\mu\nu}+\kappa^{2}h^{\mu}_{\,\lambda}h^{\lambda\nu}+\mathcal{O}(\kappa^{3})$$
I know how to get the expression to first order by writing ##g^{\mu\nu}=\eta^{\mu\nu}+\delta g^{\mu\nu}## and using that $$\delta g^{\mu\nu}=g^{\mu\lambda}\delta g_{\lambda\sigma}g^{\sigma\nu}=-g^{\mu\lambda} h_{\lambda\sigma}g^{\sigma\nu}=-\eta^{\mu\lambda}\eta^{\sigma\nu}h_{\lambda\sigma}+\mathcal{O}(\kappa^{2})$$ I am unsure how to include higher order contributions. Furthermore, how can one justify raising and lowering the indices of ##h_{\mu\nu}## with ##\eta_{\mu\nu}## if one includes such higher order terms?
 
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Frank Castle said:
where hμνhμνh_{\mu\nu} is a metric tensor

Sorry, meant to put symmetric tensor here.
Frank Castle said:
$$\delta g^{\mu\nu}=g^{\mu\lambda}\delta g_{\lambda\sigma}g^{\sigma\nu}$$

Also, it should be ##\delta g^{\mu\nu}=-g^{\mu\lambda}\delta g_{\lambda\sigma}g^{\sigma\nu}##.

Apologies for the errors.
 

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